State University System
More funds for Florida universities requested as schools plan for cuts
Lehigh Acres News Star
Even as universities prepared contingency plans to deal with a budget cut of as much as 5 percent, the Florida Board of Governors approved a plan today asking for as much as $118 million in new funding to be divvied up among its 12 institutions based on performance…
Florida universities ask state for more funding next budget year
Tampabay.com
Even as universities prepared contingency plans to deal with a budget cut of as much as 5 percent, the Florida Board of Governors approved a plan Thursday asking for as much as $118 million in new funding to be divided among its 12 institutions based on performance. According to the board, the proposed funding would go to state universities based on unspecified measures of their progress…
Board of Governors get firsthand look at FGCU during meetings
Naples Daily News
The last time the Board of Governors met at Florida Gulf Coast University, the southwest Florida institution had a different president, about half as many students and less than half its current buildings. This week, the body that oversees Florida’s 12 public universities returned to campus for two days of meetings — giving board members a chance to see the impact of seven years of changes.
Drum major’s parents condemn FAMU response to suit
The Associated Press
Florida A&M University’s insistence that it is not to blame for a drum major’s death during a hazing ritual shows school officials are not taking responsibility for the safety of students, the band member’s parents said Thursday. Pam and Robert Champion Sr. said at a news conference in Atlanta that they were disappointed by court documents filed Monday by FAMU in response to their lawsuit against the school…
Champion’s family: FAMU should have kept our son safe
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Robert Champion dreamed of two things: Attending Florida A&M and marching in the school’s famous band. But his parents say those dreams were taken from him when he was beaten to death by fellow band members in a hazing ritual last November. Speaking with their attorney at a news conference in Atlanta Thursday, the Champions said they’re disappointed in the university’s attempt this week to have a lawsuit thrown out.
FAMU attorneys alter motion to dismiss Champion hazing suit
Sun Sentinel
Attorneys for Florida A&M University on Thursday altered their motion to dismiss a wrongful death suit by the family of Robert Champion, taking out a controversial passage strongly suggesting that the late FAMU drum major was responsible for his own hazing death in Orlando last November…
FAMU Investigation Closed
WCTV
A nine month investigation into finances at Florida A&M University has been closed by the Department of Law Enforcement with no additional criminal charges. One person was charged with falsifying travel reports last month, but the report did find some policies and procedures were being ignored…
State university leaders OK new $25.7 dorm on FGCU campus
Naples Daily News
More students may be able to call Florida Gulf Coast University‘s campus home in the future. The university on Thursday gained state approval to finance a $25.7 million residence hall, to be paid using $30 million in bonds issued by its Financing Corporation. The proposed six-story dormitory is slated to open in fall 2014 and accommodate 520 students…
Movie Company Bankruptcy Raises Questions About Florida’s Expensive …
FCIR
Florida State University is another possible victim in all this. The university’s prestigious film school spent $2 million in a partnership with the company. Many students entered the FSU program under the expectation that they would later receive employment at Digital Domain.
Gator bouquets: Roses added to the list of all things blue and orange
Florida Times-Union (blog)
In the latest now-they’ve-thought-of-everything news, FTD announces the addition of the blue and orange school colors of the University of Florida to it’s officially licensed College Rose Collection.
Michelle Obama to speak in Gainesville, Tally Monday
Orlando Sentinel (blog)
First Lady Michelle Obama will be campaigning in college towns in two rallies for her husband President Barack Obama Monday, at the University of Florida in Gainesville afternoon and in Tallahassee in the evening. She will appear at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at the University of Florida at 3:30 p.m. Monday Sept. 17.
Santa Rosa County plans tourism study
Pensacola News Journal
The Santa Rosa County Commission on Thursday unanimously approved spending up to $15,000 on such a study, to be conducted by the University of West Florida’s Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development…
State College System
Big Bend news briefs
Tallahassee Democrat (blog)
As a part of its strategic planning process, Tallahassee Community College is organizing three listening session town halls to receive feedback from the community and shape its next strategic plan.
Independent Colleges and Universities
Sep 15: Bear Interaction Workshop at AMU
The Ave Herald
The Ave Maria University Security department is sponsoring a workshop by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission on “Human-black bear conflict management” Saturday, Sept. 15, from 8 a.m. to noon. Everyone is invited to attend. Thie workshop will go deal with many aspects of dealing with bears, including techniques on “hazing” bears to keep them away. The first three hours will be held in the lecture hall of the AMU academic building, and the final hour of training will be a practical application outside, so comfortable clothing is advised…
Floridians urged to register and vote
The South Florida Times
On Saturday, Florida Memorial University became his classroom as hundreds of residents and students learned about the hard-fought struggle to gain the right to vote. They also were told to be vigilant about protecting that right for current and future generations…
Panel set for Oct. 17 Nelson-Mack Senate showdown
MiamiHerald.com (blog) (registration)
The only confirmed statewide TV debate between U.S. Senate candidates Connie Mack IV and Bill Nelson will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17, from the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Davie, near Fort Lauderdale.
1st confirmed US Senate debate set: in Davie Oct. 17
Orlando Sentinel (blog)
Connie Mack IV are officially set to debate Oct. 17, at a forum called by Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association at Nova Southeastern University’s Davie campus…
Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State
Editorial: State colleges earn a big win
Sun-Sentinel
There’s a lot to be said for Broward College‘s recent designation as one of the nation’s top 10 community colleges – the proven record of high student academics, the deep commitment to diversity, not to mention the chance at being named No. 1 by a Washington, D.C.-based think tank and earning the $1 million cash prize that comes with it…
Cherry: Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 153
Florida Courier
FAMU response to Champion lawsuit – The Rattlers may end up winning the lawsuit battle against Robert Champion’s parents and end up losing the public relations war by refusing to accept corporate responsibility…
Kassab: FAMU hazing defense wrong
Orlando Sentinel
Florida A&M University would rather go morally bankrupt than pay a big settlement or jury award to the family of hazing victim Robert Champion. That much became apparent this week when the university responded to the Champion family’s lawsuit by blaming the drum major — and everyone else — for his death.
Letter: Get informed, exercise your freedom to vote
Florida Today
I certainly enjoyed seeing our president Sunday at Florida Institute of Technology. It was thrilling to see so many people packed into the Clemente Center, excited to see and hear President Obama speak…Laura Fausone-Indialantic
Editorial: Foreign policy no longer a debate afterthought
Palm Beach Post
The final presidential debate, at Lynn University on Oct. 22, is supposed to be about foreign policy. The topic had seemed like an afterthought. Now, maybe not so much. This week’s events in Egypt, Libya and Yemen remind us that foreign policy crises …
The best job I’ve ever had
University of South Florida St. Petersburg-’burg Blogs
I have had a lot of great jobs in my life, and some have taken me all over the world, including a presidential appointment and two international commissions. But this one beats them all. I just love walking around campus and feeling the energy… Bill Hogarth, Interim Regional Chancellor – USFSP
My Word: UCF’s growth not problem, funding is
Orlando Sentinel
A Sentinel article (“Too big, too fast? UCF‘s size worries education leaders,” Sunday) reported concerns among a few regarding the quality of the University of Central Florida on the basis of its growth and the numbers of students being granted access to higher education, in particular through its transfer partnership with community colleges in the region…Sandy Shugart is president of Valencia College and serves on the board of Workforce Central Florida.
Venus unveils fashion line, joining others
ESPN
On Wednesday, tennis star Venus Williams debuted the latest collection of her clothing line EleVen at New York Fashion Week. Williams, who has an associate degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, stuck to her sporting roots by having several athletes model her clothing line. ”I really don’t know why all of us athletes are doing [this]. I just know that I went to school and I love design,” Williams said. “I try to make a difference in things. This is a big show but I wasn’t nervous.”
Salvaging history
Flagler College Gargoyle
Elaine and Duke Darnold aren’t just building contractors in St. Augustine — they are salvage experts. Recently they began their first Flagler College project with the restoration of the exterior and windows of historic Wiley Hall, home to the Registrar and faculty offices.
Look at This New Monkey; Sex Makes People Do Gross Things
The Atlantic Wire
“We are very lucky that we found the lesula while there is still time to save it, and the discovery fuels the drive to raise awareness about and support for conservation of this incredibly diverse ecosystem,” says Florida Atlantic University professor Kate Detwiler, who aided in tracking down the monkey. The lesula is only the second new African monkey discovered in the last 28 years, and the first new species discovery to be linked to a popular Internet meme.
FAU professor calls attacks in Libya planned
WPBF West Palm Beach
Florida Atlantic University Middle Eastern professor Robert Rabil believes the attacks in Libya were organized by a group affiliated with al-Qaida. ”I believe the attack that took place on the ambassador and on his bodyguards was pre-planned and the event merely regarding the video, it was exploited by them,” said Rabil. “This is what I think.”
Student visits UK for an internship
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Mark Nanney, now a junior at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, spent two months in the United Kingdom working at the Formula 1 race team’s headquarters, the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking…
Seniors stick with Romney, Ryan in Florida
Washington Examiner
“They balance each other out,” said Lance deHaven-Smith, a professor of public administration and policy at Florida State University…
Orlando Sentinel restaurant review: Teak Neighborhood Grill
Orlando Sentinel
I later learned that Emily Ellyn, an instructor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, was a consultant for the 3-year-old Teak. Now, the surprising menu and the execution of certain dishes make sense…
Fox Distorts Reagan’s Record On Iranian Hostage Crisis To Attack Obama Over …
Media Matters for America (blog)
“I don’t think they were scared into the release,” [University of Central Florida professor David] Houghton said.
Big money in Senate race
Ocala
Yet the stakes are significant for both parties, said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida who has followed the contest. On one hand, claiming a Republican seat could be a huge symbolic win for the Democrats, Jewett suggested in an email…
Geography reflects delegates’ donations
The Florida Current
“It’s nice to see that in the case of party delegates that average regular folks can still get involved and participate and have influence without giving tons of money,” said University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett . . .
Nanoscientist receives $2 million NIH New Innovator award
Nanowerk LLC
The National Institutes of Health today awarded University of Central Florida Professor Ming Su its coveted New Innovator award, which comes with a $2 million grant…
College kids want Presidential contenders to focus on their issues
ActionNewsJax.com
“What are the issues they stand for and what is the relevance to my life?” questioned UNF student Duwand Constant of the candidates. Constant is constantly researching the Presidential showdown. He’s fully prepared to make his voice heard. But to win his vote, the candidate better address the topics that matter to him. ”Financial aid, loans, those are the issues that affect us directly,” he said…
Symposium: What awaits our gulf?
Tampabay.com
In the years that followed, [William T.] Hogarth, now the 73-year-old interim regional chancellor for USF St. Petersburg and the director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography, found himself the target of criticism from both recreational and commercial fishermen. ”I’ve been in the crosshairs more than once,” said Hogarth, who spent more than a decade working in the upper echelons of the National Marine Fisheries Service. “In the end, the most important thing is still the fish.”
Releases and Web Stories
Football legends at JU event: Character key to business leadership success
Press Release
While having a robust skillset is one thing and strong character is something entirely different, the two combined are like peas and carrots in the formula for success in business leadership. That was among the key messages conveyed Tuesday by former National Football League standouts Tony Boselli, Donovin Darius and Isaiah “Ike” Harris at a Davis Leadership Series program presented by Jacksonville University’s Davis Leadership Center.
